Sunday, December 21, 2008

So I am 30... pt. 1

Things that I have learned from the eve of year 30....


Below are some just things that I have learned and picked up over this past year...no specific order. 

1) Friends - You have to have them. They are the ones willing to follow you into the darkness of your life. They wade in the muck with you. They are there to laugh, cry, chill, listen, and to correct you when you get outline. They are there to correct and help.  I am grateful for all my friends.

2) Adventures - These are needed. They keep us in check. The adventure can be anything. Fun, scary, unknowing, life-threatening, humbling...they put things in perspective.

3) Camera - Doesn't matter what type, you just need one and need it with you always. I helps you remember the details of life, of people, and events. You will not be sorry.

4) Pits - They will show up eventually. They have a purpose (ps. 40:1-3). They are dark. They are uncomfortable. They are tough, BUT they do have purpose. The purpose is only revealed when we stop looking down in it, and start looking up to the LIGHT. 

5) A random hobby - Keeps you distracted in times where you over think and get overwhelmed.

6) A blog - You don't need one if you try to make a name for yourself. You do need one to spill things out that are in your head and your heart.

7) God - You can't figure Him out on your own. He makes entirely no sense to our small mind. He ask you to do things that do not make sense, BUT the results are incredible and are full of clarity. He loves us so much that He is not going to lead us into something that will ultimately destroy us. He will walk you through everything, anything, and all things. He is the answer to our lives...dreams...satisfaction...pursuit. 

8) Purpose - Everybody has one, its just most choose not to accept it. We so many times look to the present as our purpose....car...money...comfortability...status...happiness...relationships... Those things fade. If our purpose is based on those...then that "purpose" fades. Real purpose is that in which God has set before us. Uncomfortable? Yeah sometimes. Strange? Possibly. Fulfilling? More than you can imagine. Regret? Only if you don't follow Him til the end.

9) I revolve around the world - The world use to revolve around me...or so I thought. It should be me revolving around it. As a believer, I/we are called to reach the least of these. We are called to move...to act...to impact...and to ultimately Love.

10) God's Presence - Those who seek it, will find it and find true life. Those who avoid it or lacks to pursue it will live a bland Christian life. It will take you to an intimacy that you will never understand until you actually experience personally.

11) Facebook - You need an account. It helps stay connected to those who are friends and that love you.

12) Samaritans - (Jesus's Parable on the Good Samaritan)  - Don't every forget or rule out the Samaritans in your life. God will send them at key times. You will never expect them. You will actually be perplexed that they showed up, but they are a God send. Embrace them, and don't forget them.

13) Mentors - You need one. I recommend one. YOU NEED ONE! They help you work life out. Provide wisdom, an ear, and a shoulder to cry on. 

14) Cooking - You need to learn to cook. Its amazing how conversation, friendships, and encounters happen when you cook meals.

15) Brokenness - If you never experience this, then you refuse to be molded by God. He works in brokenness. Its the condition in your life when you have nothing, and God has everything you need. It is where we say, "Your will and not mine". 


These are a few...im worn out...maybe a pt. 2 may come. Much love - cham.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

To be transparent...

     God has really been "unlearning" me on some things. They may not make sense, so let me explain. In "learning" 50% of it is "unlearning". That means that you are taking away an old idea or habit, and replacing it with a new one...that is more beneficial. So in saying that, God is unlearning me on some things. As you know (hopefully), I am heading to Seattle on Jan 5, 2009. God has called me out there to serve with a church plant. The crazy thing is that I have to raise my own support to be able to serve out there. I have never done this before. I am a rookie, 1st timer in raising support, helping plant a church, etc. In the midst of this, I would like to share what God is doing with me personally. 
     God is teaching me that "Unknown is the new comfortability". I usually enjoy the adventure of the unknown, it livens things up. This new journey is a little different though. In the past, I always had a "fall back plan" just in case the "unknown" failed or got weird. Well....God has me at this point not having that "plan". In fact, I have been taught that my plan is actually a lack of faith in Him. OUCH! Yes, I have to agree with Him on that. Use to when push came to shove, I would take the wheel if I got uncomfortable or if the risk was too high. Can I just go ahead and say, THIS WAS WRONG! Why? I never gave God an opportunity to show up and show off who He is. Yes, He doesn't need me to "ok" Him to move, but I think a lot of times He chooses not to because we(I) would say that I pulled it out (if not verbally..then in my heart). So...God has been unlearning me on this while I am on this journey to head to Seattle. 
     Since I have started sharing the vision of God's mission for me in Seattle, God has given me some commands to follow. Check it out along with my response:
1) Share the Vision - Plant Seeds with everybody
    My response: No problem

2) Do not take control of this.
    My response: I promise I will not. I know how I use to be, and I don't want to be that now.

3) Do not market, overly advertise, or use smooth slick talking to raise money.
    My response: Uh..so don't function in how I normally communicate a need? What am I      
    suppose to do? Tap dance? (I asked this..God can handle sarcasm). Ok...I promise I won't, but
    how am I suppose to go about this?

4) Spread the word & just ask people to "Pray & Obey"
     My response: Hmmmm....but how am I suppose to explain the details of the needs, how I     
     am going to need certain things to being this ministry...? What if they don't obey...or pray? 
     What if that is to vague and they say "are you kidding?"

5) I told you...share the vision and then tell them "Pray and Obey". Do you trust me?
     My response: Yes, I trust you, but this is way out of my comfort zone. Meeting new people 
     easy. Doing some thing new and in a new area...great! Sitting back, when most people 
     suggest being super active when it comes to raising funds...SO UNCOMFORTABLE! This 
     unknown challenges my comfortability. Did I mention not a huge time frame to get    
     the word out?

6) I gave you a word: Eccl 11:5-6
     My response: Ok..I trust you, but this still freaks me out. I haven't heard much from nobody.

7) Trust me. I want you & others to know and experience ME at work.
     My response: Ok..You know I will struggle with this..but I trust You. I am comfortable in 
     who You are in my life. You are my Provider. You spoke the world and all the laws of nature 
     in to existence, so this is a cakewalk for You.

8) My grace is sufficient. Trust Me, Follow Me, and let Me walk you through.
     My response: Ok Lord...I am comfortable with this unknown..because I am comfortable     
     in You.

I share all this in transparency. This situation will come one day for every believer...probably multiple times in our lifetime. I just want to say that the unknown is comfortable...because God is there. We only get freaked out when we loose sight of how Great and Big He really is. I can't really describe the feeling, but the ones who have walked this situation (speaking about the unknown) know what I am talking about. God is unlearning me. I am confident in my future, because my future is in His hands. He will provide. He will lay out the adventure. I just need to make sure that my comfortability is in Him while I am in the unknown. 

So I Pray & Obey as well. Then I enjoy the journey instead of letting worry and doubt ruin it. 

Trust Him...He has you covered in every situation. 

Much love - Cham

It's late..so this is a rough draft and probably grammatically crazy...oh well.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Beautiful....

Beautiful

by Phil Wickham

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You're beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It's all proclaiming who you are
You're beautiful




I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful

I see Your face, I see Your face, I see Your face
You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My life plan...

If I had to give you the infrastructure 

of how I live and plan to live...it can be summed up below...

Psalm 112

Praise the Lord!
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

This is a psalm God gave me a back in late Summer, and I made it the guideline for my life, my Family, & my Mission.

Monday, November 17, 2008


"captivated"
1 of many to come...

I have to say....
My God is exploding in my life. I can't really describe it. I just have to encourage you to GO, SEEK, KNOCK, and experience Him for yourself. How? I wish I had it mapped out, cliff notes version on how, but I don't. I just know that when I have been waking up lately, riding in my car, or talking with peepz....the very Presence of who GOD is...pours out on me. I have not done anything special to deserve it, and to be quite honest...it baffles me. That is beside the point. I really want to mention something that is overwhelmingly real in my life...I am learning that my heart is far louder than my words can ever be. I woke up one morning only to begin in a submersion of God's overwhelming presence in my house. Didn't really understand it, I always thought it was a "got sing some" or "prayer some or for hours", but that wasn't the case. God just showed up..before I was awake. So, when I got out of bed, it seemed like He was everywhere in my house.  At that point, I really didn't know how to respond...and I told God that. So I made coffee, sat on my couch, looked up and said, "God I don't have any words to describe the way I am feeling You...so let my heart speak to You". At that point, my heart felt like it could literally burst with joy, love, hope, and peace....me describing it would be throwing dirt on it...i can't even come close. I just know God had me at a point where I didn't have any words...just a heart that spoke louder than anything I could ever do or say. And for the first time, I am realizing that its ok to be there, in fact...its called being "captivated". This is something that I am new at...but its incredible. I was captivated in my car on the way home tonight. I just can't shake the fact of what God has done, is doing, and will do in my life...but ultimately HOW GREAT HE IS AND HIS LOVE FOR ME. So...I let my heart speak on my behalf in moments like that. Sometimes it takes silence to get to the point of speaking the loudest to God. much luv~cham


Our hearts will cry
Be glorified,
Be lifted high,
Above all names.
For You our King,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.

"With Everything" by Hillsong


Updating...

Ok..i have lots to write about and haven't had a lot of time here of late. So..i am going to start writing in the next few days. Much love~cham

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Oh the ENTP in me...

My friend Kaylie got me on a Myers-Brigg kick. So here is my profile. I can't really say if I post this out of my pursuit for an audience or just because I want people to know my struggles as well as my victories that come with my ENTP personality. Knowing myself, helps me understand me, others, and how God created me. 

"And knowing is half the battle" ~ Duke from G.I. Joe


The Dominant function is the perceptive one of iNtuition. Characteristics associated with this function include:

  • Likes looking at information from a global viewpoint, spotting patterns and relationships, that lead to an understanding of the key issues
  • Focuses more on possibilities for the future than the here-and-now
  • Enjoys change, challenge, and variety

The perceptive iNtuition function is extraverted. That is, iNtuition is used primarily to govern the outer world of actions and spoken words. The ENTP will therefore:

  • Try ideas out, to explore new possibilities and discover, by experience, which ones work
  • Change procedures to see if any improvement can be made, rather than just operate them
  • Be interested primarily in evolutionary development, perhaps with an eye on the strategy.
  • Be more interested in exploring ideas than bringing them to closure

The iNtuition function is primarily supported by introverted Thinking judgement. That is, Thinking judgement is used primarily to manage the inner world of thoughts and emotions. This will modify the way that the iNtuition is directed, by:

  • focusing the (outer world) iNtuition on ideas and possibilities that relate to systems and concepts
  • inwardly tending to spot the flaws in situations, people or ideas. Rather than expressing criticism directly, it may surface in the form of contradictory ideas and possibilities.
  • applying logical analysis to perceived patterns and possibilities, enabling the ENTP to quickly see the underlying principles in a situation

The classic temperament of an ENTP is Promethean, or Phlegmatic, for whom a basic driving force is the search for competence or excellence.

Contributions To The Team Of An ENTP

In a team environment, the ENTP can contribute by:

  • challenging the status quo, and encouraging other team members to achieve more than they thought they could
  • leading other team members to a greater understanding of the concepts and principles involved
  • involving people who are competent in relevant skills
  • contributing creative ideas on how the task can be achieved or quality improved
  • creating new ideas out of confrontational discussion
  • finding ways to overcome apparently insurmountable difficulties
  • generating team spirit though the ENTP's own energy and enthusiasm

The potential ways in which an ENTP can irritate others include:

  • initiating too many projects, and not being able to deliver on all of them
  • introducing too much change, and not leaving well-established, workable routines alone
  • not taking sufficient account of current realities
  • appearing competitive and unappreciative of the contribution of others
  • leaving someone else to do the routine work
  • making errors of fact

Personal Growth

As with all types, the ENTP can achieve personal growth by developing all functions that are not fully developed, through actions such as:
  • being selective about the initiation of projects
  • pausing and thinking, and recognising that others will accept the ENTP and his/her ideas more if their own contributions are accepted and valued
  • appreciating the value of existing routines that work well
  • investigating the facts, and documenting them, before interpreting what they mean
  • taking time to consider the impact of the ENTP's approach and ideas on people's feelings
  • expressing appreciation towards others

Recognising Stress

As stress increases, 'learned behaviour' tends to give way to the natural style, so the ENTP will behave more according to type when under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the ENTP might:

  • spend time brainstorming ideas, and debating or critiquing what needs to be done
  • provide a lot of drive, but try to do too much
  • draft in people with proven skills to work on the problem
  • make errors of fact, or ignore routine matters that might nevertheless be essential

Under extreme stress, fatigue or illness, the ENTP's shadow may appear - a negative form of ISFJ. Example characteristics are:

  • being pedantic about unimportant details
  • doing things to excess - e.g.: eating, drinking or exercising
  • expressing emotions in an intensive and uncontrolled way
  • being very sensitive to criticism

The shadow is part of the unconscious that is often visible to others, onto whom the shadow is projected. The ENTP may therefore readily see these faults in others without recognising it in him/her self.